DENVER — University of Colorado junior Dylan McDermott was eliminated in the first round of match play in the 123rd U.S. Amateur, falling to Auburn freshman Jackson Koivun, 1 up, in a match decided on the 18th hole.
The two were in the middle of the pack in seeding, Koivon No. 32 and McDermott No. 33, after being among 12 golfers who tied for 26th in stroke play qualifying with 2-under 143 scorecards. Their match certainly resembled one that pitted the two closest of the 64 seeds together the first day of match play and had a battle one could say for the ages, at least the first 14 holes
Koivun, the No. 1 recruit as rated by the AJGA and the 73rd ranked amateur in the world, and McDermott, ranked 135th, each won six holes and only tied on two others. At that point, they both matched wits, both scoring pars on the par-3 No. 15, the par- 4 No. 16 and the par-5 No. 17, respectively.
It would all come down to the 487-yard, par-4 18th. Koivun’s drive had him roughly 205 yards out and hit an incredible shot to within six feet of the pin. McDermott’s drive was just shy of 300 yards and was thus roughly 20 yard closer, but his approach shot kicked up in front of the green and went about 25 feet past the hole. He hit a solid, fast winding putt to within four feet, but Koivun nailed a hard and very fast putt for a birdie and the win.
“It was good to be out there,” McDermott said. “I love match play, always fun to play match play. I hit the ball great, just didn’t seem to make many putts, and he made one at the end. I lost a little momentum going into the back nine (after he bogeyed No. 9), but overall I thought I played well and hopefully will be back next year.”
Koivun opened with two birdies on two par-4s, the 327-yard 1st and 420-yard 2nd, and the due tied on the 327-yard 3rd, the three shortest par-4 holes on the 7,343-yard, par-71 Cherry Hills Country Club course. Koivun then parred No. 4 while McDermott bogeyed to go three up, the largest lead for either player on the day.
McDermott then came roaring back, winning the next four holes, birdying the 562-yard par-5 5th, the 162-yard par-3 6th and the 424-yard par-4 7th. He then parred No. 8, a 211-yard par-3 to take the lead, but Koivon made par on No. 9, a…
The two were in the middle of the pack in seeding, Koivon No. 32 and McDermott No. 33, after being among 12 golfers who tied for 26th in stroke play qualifying with 2-under 143 scorecards. Their match certainly resembled one that pitted the two closest of the 64 seeds together the first day of match play and had a battle one could say for the ages, at least the first 14 holes
Koivun, the No. 1 recruit as rated by the AJGA and the 73rd ranked amateur in the world, and McDermott, ranked 135th, each won six holes and only tied on two others. At that point, they both matched wits, both scoring pars on the par-3 No. 15, the par- 4 No. 16 and the par-5 No. 17, respectively.
It would all come down to the 487-yard, par-4 18th. Koivun’s drive had him roughly 205 yards out and hit an incredible shot to within six feet of the pin. McDermott’s drive was just shy of 300 yards and was thus roughly 20 yard closer, but his approach shot kicked up in front of the green and went about 25 feet past the hole. He hit a solid, fast winding putt to within four feet, but Koivun nailed a hard and very fast putt for a birdie and the win.
“It was good to be out there,” McDermott said. “I love match play, always fun to play match play. I hit the ball great, just didn’t seem to make many putts, and he made one at the end. I lost a little momentum going into the back nine (after he bogeyed No. 9), but overall I thought I played well and hopefully will be back next year.”
Koivun opened with two birdies on two par-4s, the 327-yard 1st and 420-yard 2nd, and the due tied on the 327-yard 3rd, the three shortest par-4 holes on the 7,343-yard, par-71 Cherry Hills Country Club course. Koivun then parred No. 4 while McDermott bogeyed to go three up, the largest lead for either player on the day.
McDermott then came roaring back, winning the next four holes, birdying the 562-yard par-5 5th, the 162-yard par-3 6th and the 424-yard par-4 7th. He then parred No. 8, a 211-yard par-3 to take the lead, but Koivon made par on No. 9, a…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Colorado Athletics…